Probiotic compositions and therapeutic uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to liquid, non-dairy probiotic compositions comprising a viable population of lactic acid bacteria, mannose and/or a proanthocyanidin, and medical uses thereof, particularly in treating/preventing urinary tract infection. The present invention also relates to kits comprising a liquid, non-dairy composition comprising a population of viable lactic acid bacteria and mannose.

1 . A liquid, non-dairy probiotic composition comprising a population of viable lactic acid bacteria and mannose. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises one or more  Lactobacillus  species. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises one or more of  Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus , and  Lactobacillus plantarum  bacteria. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  any preceding claim , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises one or more  Enterococcus  species. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  any preceding claim , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises  Enterococcus faecium  bacteria. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  any preceding claim , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises each of  Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum  and  Enterococcus faecium  bacteria. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  any preceding claim , comprising a proanthocyanidin (PAC). 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7 , wherein the PAC is obtainable from cranberries. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 7 or claim 8 , comprising a cranberry product comprising said PAC, preferably wherein the cranberry product is a cranberry extract. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  any preceding claim  comprising a disaccharide, oligosaccharide or polysaccharide comprising at least one mannose residue. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  any preceding claim , wherein the lactic acid bacteria are metabolically active. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  any preceding claim , wherein the mannose concentration is about 2.8 mg/mL to about 280 mg/mL, optionally about 5.6 mg/mL to about 140 mg/mL, optionally about 11 mg/mL to about 70 mg/mL, preferably about 28 mg/mL. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of any one of  claims 7-9 , wherein the PAC is present at a concentration of about 0.04 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL, optionally about 0.1 mg/mL to about 2.5 mg/mL, optionally about 0.2 mg/mL to about 1.3 mg/mL, optionally about 0.4 mg/mL to about 0.6 mg/mL, preferably about 0.5 mg/mL. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of any one of  claim 7-9 or 13 , wherein the PAC is comprised in a cranberry extract, wherein the cranberry extract is present at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/mL to about 14 mg/mL, optionally about 0.3 mg/mL to about 7 mg/mL, optionally about 0.6 mg/mL to about 3.5 mg/mL, optionally about 1 mg/mL to about 1.8 mg/mL, preferably about 1.4 mg/mL. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating or preventing urogenital infection and/or urogenital inflammation in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering a liquid, non-dairy probiotic composition comprising a viable population of lactic acid bacteria to the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method is a method of treating or preventing urogenital infection, wherein said urogenital infection is a urinary tract infection (UTI). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method reduces one or more of number of UTI episodes, duration of UTI, pain burden, frequency burden and urgency burden. 
     
     
         18 . The method of any one of  claims 15-17 , wherein the composition is as defined in any one of  claims 1-14 . 
     
     
         19 . A liquid, non-dairy probiotic composition comprising a viable population of lactic acid bacteria for use in a method of treatment of urogenital infection and/or urogenital inflammation. 
     
     
         20 . The composition for use according to  claim 19 , wherein the composition is for use in treating a urogenital infection, wherein said urogenital infection is a urinary tract infection (UTI). 
     
     
         21 . The composition for use according to  claim 20 , wherein the subject exhibits a reduction in one or more of number of UTI episodes, duration of UTI, pain burden, frequency burden and urgency burden. 
     
     
         22 . The composition for use according to any one of  claims 19-21 , wherein the composition is as defined in any one of  claims 1-14 . 
     
     
         23 . Use of a liquid, non-dairy probiotic composition comprising a viable population of lactic acid bacteria in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing urogenital infection and/or urogenital inflammation. 
     
     
         24 . The use according to  claim 23 , wherein the medicament is for treating a urogenital infection, wherein said urogenital infection is a urinary tract infection (UTI). 
     
     
         25 . The use according to  claim 24 , wherein the medicament reduces one or more of number of UTI episodes, duration of UTI, pain burden, frequency burden and urgency burden. 
     
     
         26 . The use according to any one of  claims 23-25 , wherein the composition is as defined in any one of  claims 1-14 . 
     
     
         27 . A kit comprising:
 (i) a first liquid, non-dairy composition comprising a population of viable lactic acid bacteria; and   (ii) a second composition comprising mannose.   
     
     
         28 . The kit of  claim 27 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises one or more  Lactobacillus  species. 
     
     
         29 . The kit of  claim 27 or claim 28 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises one or more of  Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus , and  Lactobacillus plantarum  bacteria. 
     
     
         30 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-29 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises one or more  Enterococcus  species. 
     
     
         31 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-30 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises  Enterococcus faecium  bacteria. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-31 , wherein the population of viable lactic acid bacteria comprises each of  Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum  and  Enterococcus faecium  bacteria. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-32 , wherein the mannose concentration is about 2.8 mg/mL to about 280 mg/mL, optionally about 5.6 mg/mL to about 140 mg/mL, optionally about 11 mg/mL to about 70 mg/mL, preferably about 28 mg/mL. 
     
     
         34 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-33 , wherein the first and second compositions are formulated in combination. 
     
     
         35 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-33 , wherein the first and second compositions are formulated separately. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-35  comprising a third composition comprising a proanthocyanidin (PAC). 
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 36 , wherein the first and third compositions are formulated in combination. 
     
     
         38 . The kit of  claim 36 , wherein the second and third compositions are formulated in combination. 
     
     
         39 . The kit of  claim 36 , wherein the third composition is formulated separately from the first and second compositions. 
     
     
         40 . The kit of any one of  claims 36-39 , wherein the PAC is obtainable from cranberries. 
     
     
         41 . The kit of any one of  claims 36-40 , wherein the third composition comprises a cranberry product comprising said PAC, preferably wherein the cranberry product is a cranberry extract. 
     
     
         42 . The kit of any one of  claims 36-41 , wherein the PAC is present at a concentration of about 0.04 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL, optionally about 0.1 mg/mL to about 2.5 mg/mL, optionally about 0.2 mg/mL to about 1.3 mg/mL, optionally about 0.4 mg/mL to about 0.6 mg/mL, preferably about 0.5 mg/mL. 
     
     
         43 . The kit of any one of  claims 36-42 , wherein the PAC is comprised in a cranberry extract, wherein the cranberry extract is present at a concentration of about 0.1 mg/mL to about 14 mg/mL, optionally about 0.3 mg/mL to about 7 mg/mL, optionally about 0.6 mg/mL to about 3.5 mg/mL, optionally about 1 mg/mL to about 1.8 mg/mL, preferably about 1.4 mg/mL. 
     
     
         44 . The kit of any one of  claims 27-43 , wherein the lactic acid bacteria are metabolically active.